Improvement in animal-traps



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. BOYERS, OF FINNEYS GROVE, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN ANI MAL-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,109, dated April 30,1878; application filed February 12, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. BOYERS, of Finneys Grove, in the county of Ray and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a top view; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan; and Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section after the line indicated by x w in Figs. 1 and 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to animal-traps 5 and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, whereby I obtain a trap which consists of few parts and will do its work effectually under all circumstances, substantially as hereinafter more fully described, andpointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, A is the frame, containing the operating mechanism. In the lower part of this are secured two barrels or tubes, B and C, each of which contains a spiral spring, I) c,

which operates sliding bolts or latches D and E, respectively. Spring b, which is placed within the barrel B, is stronger than spring 0, in the opposite barrel; and both the springs b and 0 may be drawn back by'cross-pins d e, which are secured in the front ends of bolts D and E, respectively, and project out through slrl ts made in the sides of their respective barre s.

F is a cross-piece, secured in the middle of the lower part of the frame, and slotted at f to permit a shaft, G, to pass through. Shaft G has a shoulder, g, which abuts against the under side of slot f, thus controlling the motion of the shaft. To the end of shaft G is secured a cross-piece, G, armed with spears H. The other end of the shaft, below shoulder g, is secured to another cross-piece, G, at right angles to G, to each end of which is fastened a wire hook, h h, which is h1mgin wire springbails I I, the ends of which are coiled around cross-pieces K K in frame A.

L is the trigger, to the end L of which-the bait is secured. This trigger passes down, parallel to shaft G, into the barrel B, where its end is inserted through a perforation, l, and hinged to the latch-bolt D. It is prevented from being withdrawn from the barrel by an enlargement or button, 122, which plays in a socket made in the box B, which is placed upon and forms a part of the barrel B.

Upon one of thesides or faces of shaft G is a recess, i, into which will fit the end or look of bolt E, impelled outward by its spring a when shaft G has been depressed a sufiicient distance to bring recess 6 opposite to the bolt.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the ends of bolts D and E, which project out on a level with and against each other from the ends of their respective barrels, are cut off or recessed, so as to fit around shaft G and abut against each other.

The operation of my improved trap will readily be understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing. To set the trap, bolt D is pushed back by its projecting cross-pin (1, and shaft G is pulled down through slot f in the cross-piece F until recess 13, coming opposite to bolt E, this, impelled by its spring, flies into it and locks the shaft, which is now set. At the same time the trigger L is raised, and bolt D is pulled back by its cross-pin cl a sufficient distance to let the pivoted latch D enter the notch n, thus retaining the bolt in place. The bait is then placed on the hook L, on the other end of the trigger, and the trap is placed in suitable position at the entrance to a gopher-hole, mole-hill, rat-hole, or any other place where it is desired to use it. The moment the animal touches the bait the latch D is released from its hold upon bolt D, which flies out, and, pushing E (which is operated by a weaker spring) back, releases the shaft, which, operated by the springs II, darts forward or upward, its spears H H entering the body of the animal and killing it.

' I am aware that it is not new to construct an animal-trap With a shaft operated or propelled forward by springs and armed With sharp points or spears. This, therefore, I do not claim; but

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United Statesi 1. The combination of the frame A F, sliding spear-shaft G, having notch i, springs I I, and bolts D E, operated by springs b 0, of unequal strength, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

2. The combination of the frame A F, sliding spearshaft G, operated by the springs I I and having notch i, and bolts D E, sliding in barrels B G, and operated by springs b c, of unequal strength, With the trigger L and latch D, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as herein set forth, for the purposes shown and specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JAMES PETER BOYERS.

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. NoRRIs, SNIDER MILSTEAD. 

